Transcript for Benedict Cumberbatch Uncovers the Truth in WikiLeaks Thriller

Now, back to you, josh. Thank you, guys. Benedict cumber jsh bash. "Star trek." Two-time emmy-nominated actor. And adds to a string of singular performances. He plays julian assange, the wikileaks founder, who published top-secret information about the u.S. And other government activities. A decision that creates a volatile relationship with his right-hand man. Never have as many internet chats and text messages been so intense. Thanks for coming in today. I want to get to the film. You reach out, rightfully, to julian assange, to perhaps discuss whatever you might discuss. And he waits and contacts you the day before filming is to begin with an e-mail that takes a bit of a shot at the script and the film in general. It was a hard thing to take. But quite within his rights to reply, since the film is based on his character and events. I want that response. I wanted to gauge his feelings. I was hoping to meet him. He felt very strongly. But in a charming, polite e-mail that he thought the film would be bad for his cause. And I wrote him back to tell him why I thought the opposite. It gave me an objective on his predicament. And it made it clearer to me, why the story I thought was important. And a lot less than he was fearing. I want to take a look at a clip before we look. It is an information war, which goes beyond any lines we have with the mainstream media. You want to throw it away because you fear a u.S. Government informant might come to harm? It's a human being, julian. Lives are at stake. What about the soldiers and their lives involved in the conflicts. Civilian casualties. Countless incidents of friendly fire. This is information the world needs to know. You mentioned it yourself. A very nuanced look at a very complex series of issues here. Julian assange, hero or trait center. I think it's more complex than that. You can't demonize or delinize someone as a hero. It's a complex character in a complex situation. I think history will judge. I think we're still in the middle of it, with everything that's happening with snowden and the revelations about snowden. What I wanted to bring was to look a little behind the public and the acreage of footage on line. The scenes you can compare to real-life youtube footage of what we dramatized. In order to do that, you have to empathize a little bit. I went towards his point of view because I was playing him. But I think it's a great debating point. And it's a film that should start that debate. As you said, at the end of the film, the only truth you can really seek out is your own. Is your own. There's so much to get to. I want to say, fan boy. On my trip to afghanistan, watched "star trek" twice. And this last night. You are brilliant in everything. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much. It's "the fifth estate." In theaters next friday, october 18th.

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